Technology can choose routes, adjust the car automatically for each driver, and save you time – to spend with your significant other, of course

by
Nadine Filion, Driving | January 6, 2017

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What is it?

Cortana is a personal — or, more accurately, virtual — assistant that will soon, Nissan Canada says, be integrated into its cars, a service promised to make your life easier — and, says Microsoft, your relationship stronger. No kidding.

In its current design, Cortana for cars uses Microsoft’s cloud-based Azure as well as its Office productivity suite and Connected Vehicle Platform. When it is ready for prime time, Nissan is counting on Cortana to push further the envelope of its Intelligent Mobility – the company’s mot du guerre here at CES 2017. The technology is said to deliver a high level of connectivity, while making the drive more efficient and much safer — both in a human-driven car and the autonomous kind.

How does it work?

If we are to believe the video presentation at Nissan CEO Carlos Ghosn’s keynote speech at this year’s CES, Cortana (already offered on home PCs and smartphones, did you know?) will do, well, everything for the driver, following his/her command.

Here’s what Nissan/Microsoft suggests a typical morning would look like in a near future: Cortana would remind the driver of their next appointment, even diverting the navigation system if there is a change of location. “Would you want me to set up the driving mode to Sport?” Cortana might ask. Noting that a new shortcut is created along the way, she would announce a map upgrade for the following night. Once at the destination, she — and the voice is most definitely feminine — would propose to drop off her occupant and have the car park itself. Cortana also knows when the car is in need of maintenance and the preferred driving position and interior temperature for any registered driver. Cortana will even set the radio to your favourite channel.

With all the time saved by this virtual Concierge, Microsoft says the driver would be so happy and relaxed that he or she would find the time to invite his/her spouse later that day to their favorite restaurant. And of course, Cortana would make the reservation. Like I said, technology making your relationship stronger.

When is it coming?

No time frame has been determined, but Renault-Nissan (and now Mitsubishi) boss Carlos Ghosn has made it part of the company’s new Nissan Intelligent Mobility. His senior vice-president reponsable for connected vehicles, Ogi Redzic, says the company’s ambition is to democratize the technology for as many models and as many people as possible. But Redzic also says that the first biggest challenge for those technologies of assistance is to make the actual voice recognition commands more intuitive – another mot du jour at this year’s CES.

Should you buy it?

Well, you may not have to buy it, since it could be part of your next self-driving car. One thing is for sure: it’s coming. Cortana will be the thing for Nissan-Renault, but Alexa, by Amazon, will try to do about the same thing for Volkswagen.